Batasan, Makilala – A historic milestone in the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ land rights was marked on February 28, 2025, as the Mt. Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Office (MANP-PAMO) Cotabato participated in the ceremonial laying of the Ancestral Domain/Ancestral Land (AD/AL) monument. This significant event, held at Sanggawan Falls and Hotspring in Barangay Batasan, signified the formal recognition of 278 parcels of ancestral lands within the 4Bs Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).
The initiative, which covered nearly 900 hectares of Indigenous-occupied lands, was made possible through funding from various religious sectors in Germany. The Inter-Cultural Organizations Network for Solidarity and Peace, Inc. (ICON-SP) led the effort in collaboration with German geodetic engineer Albrecht Eckert, who volunteered his expertise to delineate and map out the Indigenous land claims. This effort ensures that long-term inhabitants and tenured dwellers in Brgy. Batasan have clearly defined land boundaries.
The project gained formal approval through MANP Cotabato Sub-PAMB Resolution No. 17, series of 2023. Following its successful completion, a ceremonial turnover of the Parcellary Survey Project Report was conducted, presenting the official findings to key stakeholders, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) MANP-PAMO Cotabato. The survey, which spanned from October 15, 2024, to February 25, 2025, provided critical data that will aid in ensuring the sustainable management and protection of Indigenous ancestral lands.
Matanem Bienvenido Macalos, 4Bs CADT Head of Brgy. Batasan, highlighted the initiative’s importance in addressing land ownership issues. He emphasized that the clearly defined land parcels would help mitigate boundary disputes among occupants and strengthen Indigenous communities’ rights to their ancestral territories. Expressing his gratitude, Macalos acknowledged the collective efforts of local and international partners who contributed to the success of the project.
The establishment of the AD/AL monument in Brgy. Batasan represents a significant step towards securing land tenure for Indigenous communities, reinforcing their cultural identity, and ensuring the protection of their ancestral domains for future generations. This achievement stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between Indigenous leaders, non-government organizations, government agencies, and international allies in upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
